IMPORTANT SHIPPING & MERCHANT NAVY TERMS

🔹 A. Basic Ship Orientation

1. Port – Left side of ship
2. Starboard – Right side of ship
3. Bow – Front of ship
4. Stern – Rear of ship
5. Amidships – Middle of ship
6. Fore – Towards bow
7. Aft – Towards stern
8. Centerline – Midline of ship
9. Freeboard – Deck to waterline
10. Draft – Depth below waterline
11. Keel – Backbone of ship
12. Hull – Body of ship
13. Superstructure – Above main deck
14. Bulkhead – Vertical partition
15. Deck – Horizontal platform
16. Weather deck – Exposed deck
17. Waterline – Surface level
18. Load line – Maximum loading mark
19. Plimsoll mark – Load line symbol
20. Camber – Curve of deck

🔹 B. Navigation & Bridge Terms

21. Bridge – Navigation control room
22. Chart – Nautical map
23. Compass – Direction instrument
24. Gyro compass – True north compass
25. Magnetic compass – Magnetic north
26. Radar – Detects objects
27. ARPA – Automatic Radar Plotting Aid
28. ECDIS – Electronic chart system
29. GPS – Position fixing system
30. AIS – Ship identification system
31. Echo sounder – Depth measuring
32. Log – Speed measuring
33. Course – Direction of movement
34. Speed – Rate of movement
35. Bearing – Direction to object
36. Range – Distance to object
37. Waypoint – Planned position
38. Fix – Ship’s position
39. Lookout – Visual watch
40. Watchkeeping – Duty period
41. COLREGs – Collision regulations
42. CPA – Closest point of approach
43. TCPA – Time to CPA
44. True bearing – From true north
45. Relative bearing – From ship’s head
46. Steering – Controlling direction
47. Helm – Steering control
48. Autopilot – Automatic steering
49. Bridge team – Navigational crew
50. Passage plan – Route plan

🔹 C. Ship Handling & Manoeuvring

51. Rudder – Steering blade
52. Propeller – Produces thrust
53. Bow thruster – Side movement aid
54. Stern thruster – Aft side control
55. Turning circle – Turning path
56. Advance – Distance during turn
57. Transfer – Side movement during turn
58. Stopping distance – Distance to stop
59. Dead slow – Lowest speed
60. Full ahead – Maximum speed
61. Astern – Backward movement
62. Headway – Forward motion
63. Sternway – Backward motion
64. Windage – Wind effect
65. Squat – Sinkage in shallow water
66. Bank effect – Channel effect
67. Interaction – Ship-ship effect
68. Pivot point – Turning point
69. Manoeuvre – Controlled movement
70. Berthing – Coming alongside
71. Unberthing – Leaving berth
72. Anchoring – Dropping anchor
73. Anchor aweigh – Anchor clear
74. Anchor dragging – Anchor slipping
75. Mooring – Securing ship

🔹 D. Mooring & Anchoring

76. Mooring lines – Ropes for securing
77. Breast line – Perpendicular line
78. Spring line – Prevents fore/aft movement
79. Head line – Forward securing
80. Stern line – Aft securing
81. Bollard – Shore securing post
82. Fairlead – Line guide
83. Winch – Line handling machine
84. Windlass – Anchor handling machine
85. Capstan – Vertical winch
86. Shackle – Chain connector
87. Bitter end – Chain end
88. Hawse pipe – Anchor pipe
89. Chain locker – Chain storage
90. Anchor cable – Anchor chain
91. Scope – Cable length paid out
92. Let go – Drop anchor
93. Heave up – Raise anchor
94. Snub – Stop suddenly
95. Surge – Slack movement
96. Chafing – Rope damage
97. Stopper – Holding device
98. Messenger – Light line
99. Eye splice – Loop in rope
100. Rope – Modern term (not “rope” onboard except bell line)

🔹 E. Safety & Emergency

101. SOLAS – Safety of Life at Sea
102. LSA – Life saving appliances
103. FFA – Fire fighting appliances
104. Muster station – Assembly point
105. Lifeboat – Survival boat
106. Life raft – Inflatable survival craft
107. Life jacket – Personal flotation
108. Immersion suit – Cold protection
109. Fire extinguisher – Fire control
110. Fire pump – Fire water supply
111. Fire main – Fire pipeline
112. Fire drill – Emergency practice
113. Abandon ship – Leave vessel
114. Distress signal – Emergency signal
115. EPIRB – Emergency locator beacon
116. SART – Radar responder
117. GMDSS – Distress system
118. Mayday – Distress call
119. Pan-Pan – Urgency call
120. Securité – Safety message
121. Emergency steering – Backup steering
122. Flooding – Water ingress
123. Damage control – Emergency repair
124. Safety officer – Safety in-charge
125. Permit to work – Safety approval
126. Confined space – Enclosed area
127. Toolbox meeting – Safety briefing
128. Risk assessment – Hazard analysis
129. PPE – Personal protective equipment
130. Near miss – Potential accident

🔹 F. Cargo & Ship Types

131. Cargo – Goods carried
132. Ballast – Weight for stability
133. Deadweight – Carrying capacity
134. Displacement – Total weight
135. Stability – Ability to remain upright
136. GM – Metacentric height
137. Trim – Fore/aft balance
138. Heel – Side inclination
139. List – Permanent heel
140. Container ship – Box cargo ship
141. Bulk carrier – Dry bulk cargo
142. Tanker – Liquid cargo ship
143. LNG carrier – Gas ship
144. Ro-Ro – Roll-on Roll-off
145. General cargo ship – Mixed cargo
146. Reefers – Refrigerated ships
147. Draft survey – Cargo calculation
148. Loadicator – Stability computer
149. Hatch – Cargo opening
150. Hatch cover – Hatch closure
151. Tweendeck – Intermediate deck
152. Cargo hold – Cargo space
153. Dangerous goods – Hazardous cargo
154. IMDG Code – Dangerous cargo code
155. Cargo plan – Loading plan
156. Stevedore – Port cargo worker
157. Lashing – Cargo securing
158. Dunnage – Cargo packing material
159. Ullage – Empty tank space
160. Sounding – Tank depth

🔹 G. Engine & Technical

161. Engine room – Machinery space
162. Main engine – Propulsion engine
163. Auxiliary engine – Power supply
164. Generator – Electricity producer
165. Boiler – Steam producer
166. Fuel oil – Engine fuel
167. Lubricating oil – Reduces friction
168. Cooling system – Heat control
169. Sea chest – Sea water intake
170. Bilge – Lowest part
171. Bilge pump – Water removal
172. Separator – Oil purifier
173. Air compressor – Compressed air
174. Steering gear – Rudder control
175. Shaft – Power transmission
176. Bearings – Support shaft
177. Filters – Remove impurities
178. Gauges – Measuring instruments
179. Alarms – Warning system
180. Maintenance – Routine care

🔹 H. Maritime Law & Management

181. MARPOL – Pollution prevention
182. ISM Code – Safety management
183. ISPS Code – Ship security
184. Flag state – Ship registry country
185. Port state control – Port inspection
186. Classification society – Ship standards
187. IMO – International Maritime Organization
188. Logbook – Official record
189. Sea protest – Accident declaration
190. Charterer – Cargo owner
191. Owner – Ship owner
192. Agent – Port representative
193. Notice of readiness – Cargo readiness
194. Laytime – Loading time
195. Demurrage – Delay penalty
196. Despatch – Early completion reward
197. Bill of lading – Cargo receipt
198. Mate’s receipt – Cargo receipt
199. Safe manning – Minimum crew
200. Seaworthiness – Ship fitness

🔥 INTERVIEW TIP

If asked any term:

👉 Give 1-line definition confidently. Do not over-explain.